HIGH QUALITY FROM THE PERUVIAN HIGHLANDS

When you ask where Sumaq Qara's fabrics might come from, even savvy fashion experts are often wrong. Some people think of fashion capitals like Milan and associate them with exclusive European brands. In fact, these fabrics come from the highlands of the Andes. There is a reason why Sumaq Qara is rated so highly:

Here, the charm of hand-woven fabrics is combined with a modern, abstract design language that reinterprets traditional patterns. In addition, there is an original way of craftsmanship. The pillowcases, for example, are composed of recycled hand-woven wool fabrics. The material ranges from high-end to luxurious.

Sumaq Qara is a cooperative that employs 800 women in and around the Peruvian highland metropolis of Ayacucho. A region with a rich history, it was already inhabited in Inca times. The decisive battle to liberate Peru from colonialism took place here, and the country's first university was founded here. Recent history, however, has been devastating. The Shining Path, a radical guerrilla organization, cut a trail of blood through the country. Over 70,000 people were killed and the economic livelihood of hundreds of thousands destroyed.

The end of terror was the beginning of Sumaq Qara. Three sisters, Roxana, Elile and Yuli Torres Garcia, founded the cooperative in 2006. The goal was to create new jobs for the impoverished population.

Especially women, among them many widows, should get the chance to feed their children by earning their own income and to enable them to get an education. There was and is enough talent, because Ayacucho does not bear the nickname "Peruvian capital of arts and crafts" for nothing. Sumaq Qara is an excellent example of how self-help, fair trade and good working conditions can lead to outstanding products that stand up to no comparison. Especially in Peru, which suffered greatly in Corona times, projects like Sumaq Qara are more necessary than ever.